Material handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Material handling apparatus adapted for use with graders, trenchers or backhoes, loaders, lifters and the like which include a material handling implement associated with the remote end of a boom. The apparatus includes a first support positioned in a fixed relation to the ground, a second support which is pivotally connected to the first support and means for moving the second support about said pivotal connection in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the first support. It also includes a third support mounted on the second support and means for moving the third support up and down substantially vertically relative to the second support. One end of a boom is pivotally connected to the third support and means is provided for swingably moving the boom substantially vertically about said pivotal connection to raise and lower the remote end of the boom and the material handling implement which is associated with said remote end. Preferably, all means for moving the elements about their pivotal connections comprise hydraulically operated reciprocating means.

Unite States Patent 1 Pilch 1 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: John S. Pilch, Ware, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Ware MachineWorks,Inc.,Ware,

Mass.

[22] Filed: Mar. 16, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 235,262

Related (1.8. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 22,156, March 24,

1970, Pat. NO. 3,653,131.

[52] 11.8. C1. 214/133, 214/131 A [51] Int. Cl 1366f 9/00 [58] Field of Search 214/151, 130, 131, 214/132,133,138

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,038,585 9/1912 Hollingsworth 214/133 1,356,008 10/1920 Phillips 214/133 3,042,236. 7/1962 Pilch 214/151 Primary Examiner-G. M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-John Mannix Attorney-C. Yardley Chittick et al.

[ Nov. 13, 1973 [5 7 ABSTRACT Material handling apparatus adapted for use with graders, trenchers or backhoes, loaders, lifters and the like which include a material handling implement associated with the remote end of a boom. The apparatus includes a first support positioned in a fixed relation to the ground, a second support which is pivotally connected to the first support and means for moving the second support about said pivotal connection in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the first support. It also includes a third support mounted on the second support and means for moving the third support up and down substantially vertically relative to the second support. One end of a boom is pivotally connected to the third support and means is provided for swingably moving the boom substantially vertically about said pivotal connection to raise and lower the remote end of the boom and the material handling implement which is associated with said remote end.

Preferably, all means for moving the elements about their pivotal connections comprise hydraulically operated reciprocating means.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures GROUND LEVEL PAIENTEDNM 1- 3 191a SHEET 2 EF 4- PATENTED NOV 1 3 I973 SHEET t [If 4 MATERIAL HANDLlNG APPARATUS This application is a continuation-in-part of copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 22,156, filed Mar. 24, 1970, now US. Pat; No. 3,653,131, dated Apr. 4,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to material handling apparatus such as graders, trenchers or backhoes, loaders, lifters and the like. Such apparatus customarily includes a first support adapted to be positioned in a fixed position in relation to the ground, a second support pivotally connected to the first support and movable in a horizontal direction relative to the first support and a boom associated with the second support and pivotally mounted for substantially vertical swinging movement for raising and lowering the remote end of the boom and a material handling implement which is associated with its remote 'end.

Examples of such apparatus are found in my copending United States Patent application Ser. No. 22,156, filed Mar. 24, 1970 now US. Pat. No. 3,653,131 dated April 4, 1972 and in the following Unites States patents: 1

Number Date Inventor 3,343,693 Sept. 26, 1967 Becker 3,298,543 July 17, 1967 Long, et al. 3,197,049 July 27, 1965 Schwing 31,033,394 May 8, 1962 Kashergen 3,042,236 July 3, 1962 Pilch 3,140,000 July 7, 1964 Pilch 3,231,116 Jan. 25, 1966 Powell 3,247,986 Apr. 26, 1966 Eyler, et a1. 3,289,866 Dec. 6, 1966 Emery 2,927,706 Mar. 8, 1960 Mark 2,924,3 5 Feb. 9, 1960 Bodin 2,984,373 May 16, 1961 Przyblyski 2,496,696 Feb. 7, 1950 Burner SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of this invention is to provide a new and improved material handling apparatus which can be operated 'or adjusted to provide higher and lower loading heights for loading or depositing the material which is being handled into or upon a truck or other device or structure where it is desired to deposit the material.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which the angle of the boom of a grader relative to the ground'line of the earth which is being graded may be adjusted in a new and improved manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which the overall height of the boom may be lowered to make it easier to transport the apparatus from one site to another.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which can be operated or adjusted to provide a greater digging depth when a material handling implement such as a trencher or loader bucket is associated with the remote end of the boom.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus which is economical to manufacture and which may be easily operated and controlled by one operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

According to the present invention, a third support is mounted on the second support of the prior art devices, the boom is pivotally mounted on the third support rather than on the second support and means is provided for moving the third support up. and down substantially vertically relative to the second support. When the third support is moved upwardly, the pivotal connection between the boom and the third support is also moved upwardly relative to the pivotalconnection between the first support and the second support. This provides greater loading height for loading into a truck when amaterial handling implement, such as a loader bucket, trencher bucket or a grapple or hook is associated with the remote end of the boom. This also provides a desirable method of adjusting the angle of the boom of a grader relative to the ground line of the earth which is being graded.

When the third support is moved downwardly, the pivotal connection between the boom and the third support is also moved downwardly relative to the pivotal connection between the first support and the second support. This provides greater digging depth when a material handling implement such as a trencher bucket or a loader bucket is associated with the remote end of the boom. This also provides a desirable method of adjusting the angle of the boom of a grader relative to the ground line of the earth which is being graded. A further advantage which results from lowering said pivotal connection is that the overall height of the boom of the trencher, loader, grader, lifter or other type of material handling apparatus is lowered which makes it easier to transport the apparatus from one site to another.

Preferably the third support also comprises a memher which is adapted for substantially, vertical telescopic movement up and down relative to the second support.

Means is provided for moving the third support up and down substantially vertically relative to the second support. Preferably this means comprises hydraulically operated reciprocating means such as a double acting ram and cylinder, which may be connected to the hydraulic system which provides hydraulic power for moving the second support in a horizontal direction'relative to the first support and for swinging the boom in a vertical direction relative to the third support. However, this means may be an electrically operated reciprocating means rather than an hydraulically operated reciprocating means.

By the addition of the elements included in this invention, a trencher like the trencher shown and described in my US. Pat. No. 3,042,236 may be used and the means for moving the second support in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the first support may be like the double acting rams and cylinders 27, 28 and the associated elements disclosed in said patent. In addition, the means for swinging the boom in a vertical direction relative to its pivotal connection to the third support may comprise hydraulically operated reciprocating means such as 26 disclosed in said patent. Furthermore, the excavating bucket 23 may be associated with the remote end of the boom by means of a dipperstick 22 operated by hydraulically operated reciprocat ing means such as 25 disclosed insaid patent.

The trenchers disclosed in my US. Pat. Nos. 3,140,000 and 3,536,217 may also be altered to in clude the invention of this application.

Furthermore, the excavating apparatus disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 22,156, filed Mar.

I 24, 1970 now US. Pat. No. 3,653,131 dated April 4,

I972 may be altered to include the invention of this application.

In addition, the invention of this application is applicable to graders in which the grader blade is pivotally connected directly to the remote end of the boom and also to lumber loaders or lifters in which a hook or grapple is associated with the end of a boom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a trencher or backhoe embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of parts of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 but the third support to which the boom is pivotally attached moved vertically downwardly towards the ground level from the position in which it is shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial top plan view of parts of the trencher shown in FIG. 1 taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but on an enlarged scale, of the means for moving the second support in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the first support; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of parts of another embodiment of an apparatus embodying the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The Embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout, the invention relates to material handling apparatus adapted for use with graders, trenchers or backhoes, loaders, lifters and the like, which include a material handling implement associated with the remote end of a boom.

In FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, a backhoe or trencher is shown in which'the material handling implement is a bucket 44 pivotally connected to the remote end of a dipperstick 42 which, in turn, is pivotally connected to the remote end of a boom 40.

The trencher comprises a first support 12 to which a second support 13 is pivotally connected by the substantially vertical pivots 14 and 15.

The support 12 is supported in a fixed position in relation to the ground by the stabilizers 16 and 17 which are actuated by hydraulically operated reciprocating means 18 and 19 (FIGS. 1 and 4).

The first support 12 is detachably connected to a tractor mounting or platform and each hydraulically operated reciprocating means 18 and 19 comprises a double acting piston or ram and cylinder which is actuated by an hydraulic system, the hydraulic power for which is provided by the tractor as is well known in the art.

The second support is movable in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the first support 12 by the pair of hydraulically operated reciprocating means 20 and 21 (FIG. 4), which are pivotally connected at their ends to the first support 12 bypivots20b and 21b and at their other ends to-the second support 13 by means of the plate 23 which is welded to the second support and by the two link chains 24 and 25 which are associated with the piston rods 20a, 21a of the hydraulically operated reciprocating means 20 and 21 respectively. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the chain 24 comprises a link 24a which is pivotally connected at 23a to the plate 23 and a pair of links 24b which are pivotally connected at 24c to the links 24a and are pivotally connected at 24fto the piston rod 20a. The chain 25 comprises similar links and pivotal connections for actuation by the piston rod 21a. Stops 2315 are provided on the plate 23.

Since the operation of the means for moving the second support in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the first support is described in my US. Pat. No. 3,042,236, it will not be described again in this application.

In addition to the plate member 23, the second support 13 comprises side members 27 and 28 and vertical guide members 27a, 27b, 28a and 28b which are welded thereto (FIG. 4).

The third support 30 comprises a pair of plate members 30a and 30b which are provided with enlarged end portions 300 and 30d which are slidable between the guide members 27a and 27b and 28a and 28b respectively (FIG. 4).

The third support 30 is moved up and down substantially vertically relative to the second support 13 by the hydraulically operated reciprocating means 31, 31a which is connected to the hydraulic system by conduits which are not shown. The upper end of the cylinder 31 is provided with an extension 32 which is pivotally connected to the side members 27 and 28 of the second support by a pin 33 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

The piston rod 31a is pivotally connected to the third support 30 by the pin 34 which passes through an extension of the piston rod 31b and through the enlarged portions 300 and 30d of the support as shown in FIG. 4.

The third support 30 is shown in an elevated position in FIG. 1 and in a lowered position in FIG. 2.

The boom 40 has one end pivotally connected to the third support 30 by a pin 41 (FIG. 1) for substantially vertical swinging movement relative to the third support.

The dipperstick 42 is pivotally connected to the remote end of the boom at 43 and the bucket 44 is pivotally connected at 45 to the remote end of the dipperstick, as is well known in the prior art.

The means for swingably moving the boom substantially vertically relative to the third support comprises the hydraulically operated reciprocating means 45a, 45b, one end of which is pivotally connected at 46 to the third support 30 and the other end of which is pivotally connected at 47 to the boom.

The dipperstick is rotated about the pivot 43 by the hydraulically operated reciprocating means 48a, 48b and the bucket 44 is rotated about the pivot 45 by the hydraulically operated reciprocating means 49a and 49b.

It is to be noted that the third support 30 which comprises the plates 30a, 30b and their enlarged portions 300 and 30d, is adapted for substantially vertical telescopic movement relative to the second support.

In operation, a single operator can control the hydraulic system to operate all of the hydraulically operated means 18, 19, 20, 21, 31, 31a, 45a, 45b, 48a, 48b, 49a and 49b by means of control levers which are not shown.

In operation, the bucket 44 is operated to dig a trench in the manner which is well known in the art and which is disclosed in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,042,236; 3,140,000 and 3,536,217.

When it is desired to provide a higher loading height for loading or depositing the material which is being excavated into or upon a truck, the third support is moved upwardly relative to the second support and this support up and down in the same manner as described with respect to the first embodiment.

While two desirable embodiments of the invention have been shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that various changes in shape, proportion and arelevates the pivotal connection 41 between the boom and the third support relative to the first and second supports'and to the pivotal connection 14, between them, to provide a greater loading height.

When a lower loading height or greater digging depth is desired, the third support 30 is lowered to the position' shown in FIG. 2 and this automatically lowers the position of the pivot 41 relative to the ground level.

For transporting the trencher from one site to another, the third support 30 is lowered relative to the first and second supports and this lowers the overall height of the boom making it easier to transport the trencher from one site to another.

The invention may be incorporated in the grader or excavating apparatus shown in my copending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 22,156, filed Mar. 24, I970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,131 dated Apr. 4, 1972 by adding the third support and the means for moving the third support up and down substantially vertically relative to the first and second supports to that apparatus and by pivotally connecting the boom and the means forswingably moving the boom substantially vertically to the third support. In the thus modified apparatus, the angle of the boom of the grader relative to the ground line of the earth which is being graded may be adjusted and the overall height of the boom may be lowered for ease in transport of the apparatus from one site to another by moving the third support up and down relative to the first and second supports.

The Embodiment of FIG. 6

In FIG. 6, an apparatus for lifting lumber from a pile or truck to a building where it is to be used or from a pile to be deposited in a truck for transport is shown.

The first support and the means for moving the second support 13 in a'substantially horizontal direction relative to the first support are not shown in FIG. 6, but they may be of the same or similar construction as the first support 12 and the hydraulically operated means 20, 21 of the first embodiment.

In addition, the means for moving the third support substantially vertically relative to the second support 13 is not shown in FIG. 6, but it may consist of the cylinder 31, piston rod 31a and the pivotal connections 7 thereof to the second and third supports 13 and 30 as shown and described in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 6, the boom 40a is pivotally connected at 41a to the third support 30 and the hook or grappel is pivotally connected to the remote end of the boom at 51. The piston rod 45d of the means for swingably moving the boom substantially vertically relative to the third support is connected to the boom at 47a and the cylinder Sc of said means is connected to the third support by the pivot 460. I

The third support 30 may be moved upwardly and downwardly to provide higher and lower loading heights for loading or depositing the lumber or other material which is being handled into or upon a truck or building by actuating the means for moving the third rangement of parts as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. Material handling apparatus comprising, a first support adapted to be supported in relation to the ground, a second support, substantially vertical pivot means connected between said first and second supports for supporting said second support for movement thereof in a substantially horizontal direction relative to said first support, a third support,

a boom, substantially horizontal pivot means for pivotally connecting the inner end of the boom to said third support for substantially vertical'swinging movement of the boom relative to said third support about the axis of said substantially horizontal pivot means, first hydraulically operated reciprocating means for swingably moving the boom substantially vertically about said substantially horizontal pivot means, pivot means for connecting one end of said means for swingably moving the boom to said third support, pivot means for connecting to the boom on the other end of said means for swingably moving the boom, substantially vertically extending guide means on said second support located between said substantially vertical pivot means and said substantially horizontal pivot means when the apparatus is viewed from the side, means on said third support for coaction with said substantially vertical guide means for providing substantially vertical sliding movement of said third support relative to said second support, second hydraulically operated reciprocating means having one end connected to said second support and the other end connected to said third support for moving said third support up and down substantially vertically relative to said second support and for retaining said third support in selected vertical positions, said second reciprocating means being spaced laterally from and located between said substantially vertical pivot means and said substantially horizontal pivot means when the apparatus is viewed from the side, whereby the positions of said substantially horizontal pivot means and of said pivot means for connecting one end of said means for swingably moving the boom to the third support remain fixed with respect to each other but said positions are changed vertically relative to the position of said substantially vertical pivot means during operation of said second reciprocating means when the apparatus is viewed from the side.

first support also comprises fourth hydraulically operated reciprocating means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said third support also comprises means for coaction with said substantially vertically extending guide means adapted for substantially vertical telescopic movement relative to said second support. 

1. Material handling apparatus comprising, a first support adapted to be supported in relation to the ground, a second support, substantially vertical pivot means connected between said first and second supports for supporting said second support for movement thereof in a substantially horizontal direction relative to said first support, a third support, a boom, substantially horizontal pivot means for pivotally connecting the inner end of the boom to said third support for substantially vertical swinging movement of the boom relative to said third support about the axis of said substantially horizontal pivot means, first hydraulically operated reciprocating means for swingably moving the boom substantially vertically about said substantially horizontal pivot means, pivot means for connecting one end of said means for swingably moving the boom to said third support, pivot means for connecting to the boom on the other end of said means for swingably moving the boom, substantially vertically extending guide means on said second support located between said substantially vertical pivot means and said substantially horizontal pivot means when the apparatus is viewed from the side, means on said third support for coaction with said substantially vertical guide means for providing substantially vertical sliding movement of said third support relative to said second support, second hydraulically operated reciprocating means having one end connected to said second support and the other end connected to said third support for moving said third support up and down substantially vertically relative to said second support and for retaining said third support in selected vertical positions, said second reciprocating means being spaced laterally from and located between said substantially vertical pivot means and said substantially horizontal pivot means when the apparatus is viewed from the side, whereby the positions of said substantially horizontal pivot means and of said pivot means for connecting one end of said means for swingably moving the boom to the third support remain fixed with respect to each other but said positions are changed vertically relative to the position of said substantially vertical pivot means during operation of said second reciprocating means when the apparatus is viewed from the side.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 which also comprises means for moving said second support about said substantially vertical pivot means.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for moving said second support relative to said first support comprises third hydraulically operated reciprocating means.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for moving said second support relative to said first support also comprises fourth hydraulically operated reciprocating means.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said third support also comprises means for coaction with said substantially vertically extending guide means adapted for substantially vertical telescopic movement relative to said second support. 